Frequently Asked Questions

The mission of Network Angels is to provide short-term emergency grants to employees and independent contractors of The MENTOR Network who are in need of financial assistance due to a personal crisis, including natural disasters, fires, catastrophic injuries or illnesses, the death of an immediate family member, incidents of domestic violence or other qualifying events.

Q.Who can apply for a Network Angels grant?

A. To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must be either (a) an employee employed by The MENTOR Network or a partner organization for a minimum of six months, (b) a non-Mentor independent contractor with at least 300 hours of contracted billable time in the past six months or (c) a Mentor independent contractor with at least at least 90 contracted billable days in the past six months.Back to top

Q. Other than Mentors, what are some examples of contract positions that would make someone eligible for Network Angels?

A. Individuals in all contract positions that meet the above service requirement are eligible to apply. Those providing in-home supports and periodic services, such as occupational therapy and physical therapy, are just two examples.Back to top

Q. Do I have to repay the grant? Will I have to pay taxes on it?

A. No. A grant is a gift from your colleagues in your time of crisis. It is not a loan. Similarly, the grant is tax-free because it is a charitable contribution.Back to top

Q. Will my application be kept confidential?

A. Absolutely. Only members of the Grant Selection Committee and staff in Human Resources will know your identity.Back to top

Q. What is a qualifying event?

A. A qualifying event is the crisis you experience that creates a financial need in your life. IRS tax laws require that a grant recipient have an approved and documented qualifying event in order to keep grants tax-free for everyone.

For our purposes, a qualifying event would be fire, natural disasters causing the loss of your home, incidents of domestic violence requiring the victim to find another place to live, an accident that eliminates a source of income or results in unanticipated expenses, or a serious illness or death of an immediate family member that places unexpected burdens on your family. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact networkangels@thementornetwork.com or call 877-255-2003.Back to top

Q. If I’ve had a qualifying event, what kind of help can I get from Network Angels?

A. Here are a few examples: Network Angels may provide assistance with temporary housing after a fire or natural disaster; basic home modifications—such as a wheelchair ramp—required because of an accident-related disability; the purchase of food and clothing after a fire or natural disaster; and past-due rent or mortgage payments and essential utilities following a sudden or extended illness that prevents you from working. Network Angels can also assist with basic funeral expenses for immediate family members (including spouses, children and parents).Back to top

Q. What types of needs are not covered by Network Angels? For example, what if my credit card debt has become overwhelming, and it’s preventing me from meeting other needs?

A. Network Angels does not cover credit card debt or personal loans of any kind. Medical bills, treatment costs, insurance premiums and co-pays are also not eligible for Network Angels funding. If medical costs that you have paid are preventing you from paying rent, then Network Angels would consider helping you pay your rent. Other items not covered: appliances, airfare, down payments on new homes, non-essential utilities, such as cable and cell phones, and non-essential funeral expenses, such as limousines and flowers. In order to maintain the tax-free status of our grants, the Network Angels grant selection committee must strictly adhere to our approved qualifying expenses.Back to top

Q. Is the application difficult to fill out? What type of information do I need to submit?

A. The application should take you about 15 minutes to fill out once you’ve gathered your information. There are no trick questions; just requests for basic financial information and some verification related to the crisis, such as copies of past-due notices, insurance reports, physician statements and police and fire contacts. The goal is to understand your need.

There are two parts:

The application itself, which asks for personal information, financial data, such as checking and savings account balances, and your vendor’s name and address.

A monthly household and income expense worksheet, which asks you to detail how much it costs for you to live each month (rent, insurance, utilities, debt, etc.).

In order to maintain the tax-free status of our grants, the Network Angels grant selection committee must strictly adhere to our stated guidelines, including the requirement of third-party documentation of qualifying events.Back to top

Q. What if I am having a hard time gathering all the information Network Angels needs to consider my application?

A. The committee that reviews applications (Grant Selection Committee) will wait until it has a completed package of information before it begins consideration. You will not be disqualified for not having the information; the process will simply be stalled. Help us help you by sending in a completed package. Our goal is to notify applicants of funding decisions as quickly as possible.Back to top

Q. How long does the process typically take?

A. Applications are processed as they are received and our goal is to notify applicants of funding decisions as quickly as possible. Applications that are received with all of the required documentation can be reviewed within one to two business days.Back to top

Q. Do I need my supervisor to sign off on my application?

A. In the interest of maintaining confidentiality, Network Angels does not require applicants to get sign off on their applications. However, Network Angels does reserve the right to verify applicants’ information with Human Resources and Payroll.Back to top

Q. How much will my grant be?

A. Grant amounts are determined individually and based on available funding but will average approximately $1,000.Back to top

Q. Will I receive the grant directly?

A. No. Grants will be paid to vendors only. For example, if you request funding to be used toward your rent, the grant will be paid directly to your landlord.Back to top

Q. How often can I apply for a grant from Network Angels?

A. Employees may only receive assistance once in an 18-month period and a maximum of three (3) times in a lifetime.Back to top

Q. Where does the money given out by Network Angels come from?

A. Network Angels is a public charity and must raise one third of our funds from Network employees and independent contractors. The company can then contribute up to two dollars for every dollar donated to Network Angels in qualifying contributions (contributions which exceed no more than 2% of the annual budget of the fund—for example, contributions of no more than $1,000 on a $50,000 budget.) In any given year, the extent of the match will depend on a number of factors—including employee and independent contractor participation and demand. In addition, to ensure that the impact of that donation is maximized, The MENTOR Network provides in-kind support to manage and administer the program.Back to top

Featured Video

Network Angels: The MENTOR Network’s Emergency Assistance Fund

Network Angels is charitable organization created by The MENTOR Network's employees for Network employees and independent contractors who experience sudden, life-altering events that jeopardize their ability to meet basic living expenses. Watch our video to learn how Network Angels can provide support when Network families need it most.